Elbow Pain - Symptom Evaluation - Glossary

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint.

Bursa: It is fluid-filled sac that is present in joint spaces for smooth gliding and reducing friction.

Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursa.

Cartilage: Firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at joints.

Decompression: A procedure to remove pressure on a structure, as in decompression of the ulnar nerve in cubital tunnel syndrome.

Dislocation: Displacement of one or more bones at a joint.

Elbow: It is the middle portion of the upper extremity formed by long bones namely humerus, radius and ulna.

Elbow joint: It is a hinge joint formed where the humerus meets the radius and ulna. This joint enables forward, backward, outward and inward movements of the arm.

Fracture: A break in the bone.

Golfers elbow: Pain caused by damage to the tendons that bend the wrist toward the palm.

Joint: Where the ends of two or more bones meet.

Lateral epicondylitis: A painful injury to the tendon that is attached to the outer part of the elbow due to repeated twisting or over use.

Ligaments: A ligament is a tough band of connective tissue that connects the bones and keeps joints stable.

Medial epicondylitis: Pain caused by damage to the tendons that bend the wrist toward the palm.

MRI Scan: Magnetic resonance imaging technique is used to produce high resolution images with minute details using radiowaves, magnetism and computer.

Tendon: Fibrous tissue by which muscle attaches to the bone.

Tendinitis: Inflammation of the tendon.

Tennis elbow: A painful injury to the tendon that is attached to the outer part of the elbow.

Radius: The shorter bone in the forearm on the thumb side.

Ulna: The longer bone in the fore arm.